I know you hate a Saturday afternoon match, it’s too early to fill your stomach with Guinness and a bad result means your whole weekend is ruined but think about the positives, a win today would put us above Aston Villa on goal difference and we match City’s point tally although they have played a game less.
The Eagles are tough nuts. They drew Man City at Etihad, almost won against Chelsea, and were leading against Liverpool till 75th minute when Jordan Ayew took a red card on himself to let Liverpool enjoy their title challenge. It’s not going to be an easy game for us; our Home form is not that great either having lost 2-0 to West Ham when we last played. We have an underdog team that tries to fight the big teams in a time when we are struggling to score having suffered some poor defeats and draws recently. It’s going to be anything but a boring game.
Team must be feeling fresh and rejuvenated. Boys had a wonderful 2 week break in Dubai and the sun would have done some good to their mind and body. Mikel Arteta was equally positive in his pre-match press conference :
We are recharged, full of energy and super motivated. The team is super motivated and we want to attack the second half of the season with a lot of ambitions and with the understanding that the team is capable of big things. They are convinced of that.
source : Arsenal.com
As a critic, I feel we don’t have enough to challenge either of City or Liverpool unless we bring in a CF who can score for fun and Mikel decides to be a bit flexible with his approach and in-game management. As a fan, we are still just 5 points short of the leader and the whole second half of the season is to be played. Anything can happen, we may pick up the form of our last season, some decisions might go in our favor which mostly hasn’t and we remain free of any injuries.
Team News
It’s the usual. Jesus and Zinchenko are still doubtful to play today, having missed the last game against Liverpool. Tomiyasu is away on his country duty in Asian cup. Both Vieira and Partey are not available yet.
Defensively, we have a problem at LB. Kiwior will start because we don’t have Tomiyasu. Midfield remains as is, Rice + Havertz. Up top, Eddie will get another chance to prove himself.
If I have to guess, Arteta is going to play Emile Smith Rowe today. There is just too much noise about him in the media, and Mikel knows how to not ruin his PR. It remains to be seen whether it will be a like to like replacement where Odegaard sits on the bench or if he decides to experiment on the LCM position and move Havertz up. Anyways, I want him get those minutes and I am pretty confident he will prove those Twitterati wrong who wants him sold in 30m.
A relief for Mikel is that Ayew is out for Afcon, Olise is out with hamstring injury, and Ward is out too. They are going to play without two of their best players and the captain.
Expectations?
I would love a big win. By now, it’s clear that Aston Villa has made everyone’s life tough by fighting for the Champions League spot. Goal difference would matter towards the end and we haven’t really been good in scoring big. There is a chance today, we play at home and against a team who, though loves to bully the big boys, have two of their best players out. Go and get a 4-0 win, shorten the goal difference with the leaders and keep a clean sheet.
Right, short one today because I have got a weekend off after ages. The more I try to limit my screen time, the more I fail. However, the limit won’t come on the cost of London is Red.
#COYG
We look better defensively with out the ball
Bar Zinchenko who’s been Palace’s best player
Palace to come back in the 2nd half
After his goal Big Gabby going up on attack mode. Giddy up display for Real auditioning?
…and escape
20 minutes and just one header on target at home is piss poor
Emirates very subdued
What a tosser Havertz is
Havertz not getting the ball in a heading duel with an opponent 1.5′ shorter .
This is school boy error football from us
It’s like we’ve regressed to Palace’s level
Bore fest bar the Gabriel’s jump, seems like a competition who is more of waste in the midfield – Havertz or Ode.
Jesus offside twice?
Passing is awful.
CP look like scoring. What the fuck is Arteta coaching them to do? We look shit.
Big Gabi on a hat-trick?
Should win now even with this dire performance
Gabriel 2 – Palace 0
Second set piece goal seems to involve White obstruction of goalkeeper as Big Gabby heads it in
Just think Arteta wanted to sell big Gabby
Could have gone both ways Hoopah
Zinchenko channelling his David Platt thing again